FLOATING MARKET

Khlong Lat Mayom is one of the three floating markets located close to Bangkok, no more than twenty kilometres from town and accessible by taxi from Wongwian Yai (the last BTS station on the Silom Line). Khlong Lat Mayom is nothing like the huge touristy Damnoen Saduak or the crowded Amphawa but really has the charm and authenticity of a local market and you might be one of the only foreigners around. You can spend a couple of hours here then move to the largest Taling Chan floating market, just a couple of kilometers away. Everybody love floating markets - Thai and tourists alike - you just have to see how locals flock to the place on weekends! Local market culture has deep roots in Thai daily life and eating out is not a special event as it is in western culture: it's fun, cheap and casual, and Thai food has so many variations it can be a travelling theme on its own.
The largest part of the market is built on firm ground and is surprisingly large and fun. One side is dedicated to the

fresh market, mostly beautiful veggies and fruits, while the other side sells all kinds of colorful snacks, sweets and cooked food. You can find familiar or surprising tropical fruits: huge papayas, large green or ripe mangoes, chompoo and sapodillas, massive pomelos like overgrown grapefruits. If you think you know pineapple and bananas, try again! If it's your first time in tropical county, you will be surprised, it's nothing like what you have tried in your country.Further into the market is where you can buy cheap clothing, house decoration, accesories, toys and the unavoidable flowers and plants, two items always popular at riverside markets. If you have kids,

take them for a pony ride at the ranch just down the road; they will ride their cute little friend from the ranch to the market and back, definitely a great memory for them and a great photo for you.
To make the best of your morning, it might be a good idea to combine both Taling Chan and Khlong Lat Mayom as they are only a couple of kilometers away from each other. Start with Khlong Lat Mayom first as it is the smallest of both, then move to Taling Chan where you can board a longtail boat for a very small fee and ride around the neighboring khlongs. Both should give you a great insider's view of the daily life of river people and a great morning away from town - and you won't have to wake up before sunrise to enjoy it!